The fifth console generation is one of the most innovative times in video game history. It brought the medium into the 3-D realm while implementing ground-breaking controls to complement the expansive, immersive environments. While the mid to late 90s saw a boom of technical innovations, it's also viewed as the Golden Age of RPGs by many hardcore gamers. The introduction of CD formats allowed developers to make more elaborate role-playing games than ever before, taking the genre to phenomenal new heights.
Although RPGs weren't as apparent on cartage-based systems during the fifth console generation, CD systems saw a plethora of trailblazing RPGs that are still cherished by the loyal community. Games like Final Fantasy VII, Chrono Cross, Suikoden II and Xenogears became icons of their time, paving the way for future titles for years to come. RPGs went from a niche video game genre to one of the most popular in the industry in just a few short years.
While the most celebrated RPGs are typically associated with the original PlayStation, the genre also found great success on the Sega Saturn. The highly underrated system housed some of the greatest overlooked RPGs ever to grace home consoles. Although Panzer Dragoon Saga is often recognized as the epitome of 1990s RPGs, the Sega Saturn also had a slew of fantastic JRPGs that set the standard at the time.
The legendary video game publisher Working Designs worked exclusively with Sega to bring over the best RPGs Japan had to offer, localizing dozens of amazing titles such as Dragon Force, Albert Odyssey and Magic Knight Rayearth. These hidden gems are still widely praised and have become some of the most sought-after RPGs ever created. Video game collectors will spend hundreds of dollars on a single Working Designs RPG. Their quality is second to none, establishing them as some of the best and often underrated RPGs in history.
It's no secret that Final Fantasy VII sent shockwaves through the video game world. The game popularized JRPGs in North America and changed the way many gamers view video game storytelling. The release of Final Fantasy VII gave way to a ton of extraordinary RPGs that helped defy the generation. Some JRPGs probably wouldn't have received North American releases if it wasn't for Final Fantasy VII's overwhelming success.
As stated before, the introduction of CD-based technology opened up many exciting new doors for RPG developers. It's storage space dwarfed cartridge-based systems, allowing them to utilize advanced technologies previously thought to be impossible. Developers could create CG cutscenes for the first time while giving players longer, more immersive gaming experiences. The intriguing storytelling and innovative gameplay mechanics of 1990s RPGs mixed with advanced CD-technology made for a perfect storm that completely revitalized the video game genre.
The fifth console generation took gaming to places never thought imaginable. Computer technology and video game development's rapid growth made it one of the most ground-breaking eras the industry has ever seen. The mid to late 1900s saw more memorable RPGs than any previous generation, making it a pivotal point for the genre. Many fifth-generation RPG franchises are still going strong today and probably will continue for many years to come.